Child Safeguarding Statement

The Football Association of Ireland provides sporting activities and opportunities for young people through participation in clubs, regional / provincial events and through our national teams. 

Bridge United AFC is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of FAI Safeguarding Policies our staff, both volunteers and employed working with our young people, seek to create a safe environment for young people to grow and develop. 

Bridge United AFC written Risk Assessment document indicates the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance or process documents required to alleviate these risks. The list of risks identified are contained in the following categories: Club and Coaching Practices; Complaints & Discipline; Reporting Procedures; Use of Facilities; Recruitment; Communications; and General Risk of Harm. 

The Risk Assessment was undertaken on 16/01/20.

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, (the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice). In addition to our Risk Assessment described above, there are further procedures that support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our activities.

Bridge United AFC has the following procedures in place as part of our safeguarding policies:

·         Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of our activities;

·         Procedures for the safe recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities

·         Procedures for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm;

·         Procedure for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities;

The Mandated person for the FAI is Kirsten Pakes (kirsten.pakes@fai.ie)

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our Club is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our activities.

The Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in January 2022.

For queries on this Child Safeguarding statement please contact Kevin Toomey (Child Welfare Officer) @ 087 2992161